I'M A BELIEVER
Theresa May vows she DOES believe in Brexit and insists no one wants a deal more than her
THERESA May has vowed that she DOES believe in Brexit - even though she campaigned to Remain.
As she began the most turbulent Tory party conference in years, the Prime Minister hit back at accusations from Boris Johnson that she didn't really want to leave the EU.
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Opening the party gathering in Birmingham today, she told the Andrew Marr Show: "I do believe in Brexit but crucially I believe in delivering Brexit in a way that respects the vote and delivers on the vote of the British people while also protecting our Union, protecting jobs and ensuring that we make a success of Brexit for the future."
And she added: "That’s why I’m being ambitious for this country, that’s why I want us to get a really good free trade deal with the European Union which is what lies at the heart of the Chequers plan."
Last night the ex-foreign secretary launched another broadside at the PM, blasting her Chequers Brexit plan as "deranged".
And he said in an interview with the Sunday Times: "Unlike the Prime Minister, I campaigned for Brexit."
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He went on: "Unlike the Prime Minister, I fought for this, I believe in it, I think it's the right thing for our country and I think that what is happening now is, alas, not what people were promised in 2016."
Elsewhere in the interview to kick off the start of a four-day conference in the Midlands, she:
- Vowed she was in it to win it, blasting: "no one wants a good deal better than I do";
- Again pressed the EU to tell her to why they don't like her Chequers plan, saying: "where they have problems, let’s hear them";
- Insisted her ideas were the best ones on the table "for the moment" which would deliver on the referendum result;
- Told Brexiteers fighting for a Canada deal that this would effectively break up Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK;
- Apologised to those who were caught up in the Windrush scandal under her watch
- Warned Labour to "stop playing politics" and start "acting in the national interest" over Brexit;
Corbyn doesn't care about anti-Semitism, Theresa May suggests
By Hugo Gye
JEREMY Corbyn’s refusal to anti-Semitism shows he doesn’t care about the problem, Theresa May suggested today in a blast at Labour.
The PM said the leftie leader’s failure to crack down on bigotry in his party “tells you everything you need to know” about Labour’s attitude.
Her attack on Mr Corbyn came as she was questioned about Islamophobia in the Tory party on the BBC’s Sunday Politics.
Mrs May admitted the Conservatives have a problem with anti-Muslim racism - but insisted officials are dedicated to stamping it out and punishing bigoted activists.
She contrasted her approach to Labour’s, adding: “If you look at some of the comments and remarks that have been made by Labour MPs about the attitude of the Labour frontbench and the leader in the particular in relation to anti-Semitism, that tells you everything you need to know about Labour’s approach.”
Mr Corbyn has been accused of refusing to be tough enough on left-wing activists who spew hatred towards Jewish people.
Mrs May has told of her determination to deliver Brexit with or without a deal and vowed: “I’m not bluffing.”
In an exclusive interview with The Sun on Sunday, the PM warned stubborn EU chiefs she will do everything in her power to get her Chequers blueprint agreed.
She blasted saboteurs at home for “playing politics” with Britain’s future by trying to derail her plan for their own ambitions.
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But she insisted she won’t flinch from quitting empty-handed if her efforts are blocked by any of the forces lined up against her. Mrs May declared: “I’m serious about it when I say No Deal is better than a bad deal.
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“It is very important that people realise I am not bluffing about this.
“I believe that we can get a deal. I believe we can get a good deal and that’s what we are working for. But nobody should be in any doubt.”